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Speaking of a contemporary musician a guy once said to me 'He has gone full circle'! That sort of summed up the past year for me and my piano journey. I returned to the piano after 40+ years and decided I would think seriously about learning to play. Having went through the many variations of learning methods I have decided to return to the method that I feel best suits me, the traditional method. It is the only method that offers me discipline, a focus and a means by which I can improve. Like the musician my friend talked about, I too have gone full circle!

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"If your only tool is a hammer, every problem tends to look like a nail!"

I'd be interested to know how many others tried non-tradtional methods and went to or back to traditional. I've wondered sometimes how my piano journey would be going if I tried PM or other non-traditional methods.

Before I restarted piano lessons, I also struggled whether I should be focusing exclusively on classical music or non-classical music. I decided to take the classical route where lessons are concerned. Pretty much for the same reasons you listed. So far I'm enjoying lessons immensely.

I haven't abandoned attempting to improve my ability to play by ear and to improvise. It's just that my current focus is mainly on classical music. However I'm also currently working my way through level 2 of Contemporary Music Theory by Mark Harrison. There is a wealth of knowledge in this book and also in the level 1 book.

Whenever time permits I do try playing simple songs by ear. It does help to make piano learning more fun at times.

Although you have decided to focus on the traditional way of learning don't give up on playing by ear or improvising. Maybe you need a different method (possibly a more structured method) of accomplishing these skills.

On looking through my lesson notes earlier in the year my teacher has given me an idea of what daily practice should involve.

1. Technical Work - scales, arps, broken chords(Scales - all majors/minors/melodic minors and chromatic) - working from 1 octave up to 42. Practice - Loud-soft-legato-stacatto (all combinations)3. Theory - Key - Time signatures - note values4. Sight reading - work at a level 2 grades lower than your current playing level5. Ear Training - Listen to music and identify patterns and rhythms in music (CDs)6. Pieces - work on a current piece and end with a fun piece you like.

_________________________
"If your only tool is a hammer, every problem tends to look like a nail!"